Thursday, December 18, 2008

Final Set of Solar Wings Packed and Ready

Kennedy Space Center today offered reporters a chance to see the final piece of the International Space Station's central truss, which is set for delivery by shuttle Discovery Feb. 12.

The 31,127-pound, 45-foot long truss segment, called S6, contains a fourth and final set of American-made solar array wings that will be installed on the station's starboard side.

Two solar wings that will each span 115 feet in length and 35 feet across are now folded in boxes to a thickness of about 20 inches.

When unfurled in space like an accordion, they'll be capable of generating 66 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power 30 homes 2,800 square feet in size.

The wings, which each hold 32,800 solar cells, will add power that will help the station support larger crews of six and conduct more science research.

The $300 million truss segment is the 11th piece of the station's backbone, which will measure the length of an American football field when complete.

The truss segment is nearly identical in construction to its counterpart on the port side, or P6, but includes some modifications to hold spare parts and some sensors to measure wear and tear.

Once Discovery is docked with the station, the station's robotic arm will lift the truss from the orbiter's payload bay, then hand it off to the shuttle's robotic arm. The station arm will then slide down the truss before taking hold of the truss again and positioning it for installation.

Astronauts Richard Arnold and Steven Swanson will complete the assembly during the mission's first of four planned spacewalks.

The crew will also deliver Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who will take Sandra Magnus' place as an Expedition 18 flight engineer. Magnus will return home with Discovery.

The payload is expected to be placed in a transportation canister Jan. 7, rolled to Launch Pad 39A on Jan. 11, and installed in Discovery on Jan. 17.

Click here for a NASA link that show's the progression of space station assembly, which began 10 years ago.

IMAGE NOTE: Click on the image to enlarge it. In the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 21, STS-119 mission specialist Steve Swanson gets a close look at the S6 truss that is the primary payload on the mission. Shuttle Discovery will carry the S6 truss segment to complete the 361-foot-long backbone of the International Space Station. The truss includes the fourth pair of solar array wings and electronics that convert sunlight to power for the orbiting laboratory. Discovery is targeted for launch on Feb. 12, 2009. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

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